Chapter 8: A Visit with the Grangers

"Do we have to do this so soon?" asked Ron as he and Hermione walked up Hermione's parents' driveway. "Don't you think we should wait until they get to know me before we tell them we're getting married?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh, and I suppose you want to wait until there are two weeks before the wedding to tell them." She said, and Ron could tell she was annoyed with him.

"Well, no, but-"

"RON!" Hermione snapped as she stopped in the middle of the driveway and faced Ron. "For, the last time… you will do fine! Trust me."

Ron sighed. Hermione was right. It was now or never.

Hermione rang the doorbell and pushed her white gloves a little bit further up her arms to make sure her ring was covered. Ron could hear two little dogs barking inside. Suddenly the door opened, and Hermione's mother appeared along with a small, fluffy, white dog with curly fur, and an even smaller dog with long, golden-brown fur.

"Hello, Hermione! Thanks for coming, dear!" she said over the golden-brown dog's barking, giving her daughter a big hug. "Why are you wearing gloves?"

"It's part of the outfit, Mum. I can't take them off."

Mrs. Granger shrugged, and then moved on to Ron. "And you must be Ronald Weasley. Hermione has told us so much about you!" Mrs. Granger said to him as she gave him a gently and slightly more timid hug.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Granger." Ron said politely.

"Please, call me Karen." Mrs. Granger said as she let Hermione and Ron into the house.

The little white dog jumped up on Ron's leg, wanting to say hello, so Ron bent down to greet it.

"That's Lucy." Hermione explained, bending over to greet the dog as well. "She's a Bichon Frise, and very friendly. The other one's Yapper. As you can tell, his name fits. He's a Pomeranian, and I know he barks a lot, but he doesn't bite. He just has to get to know you."

"Your dad's in his office, Hermione." Karen spoke up suddenly. "Go into the living room, and I'll let him know you're here."

About a minute later, Hermione's father walked into the room, followed by Karen and the dogs. He smiled when he saw Hermione and gave her a hug. "I've missed you, honey. You really should visit more often." Then he turned to Ron and said, "I'm Dr. Jonathan Granger, but you can call me John."

Ron shook his hand. "I'm honored to be finally meeting you, John, and your wife. You have a very nice home." Ron said, trying to be extra polite to his fiancée's father.

"Why thank you, Ronald. It was built in 1908 and has been in my family since the 40s. We are quite proud of it." Mr. Weasley said.

"Please, sir, call me Ron. It's what everyone else calls me."

"I will call you Ron as long as you call me John, and nothing else." John said with a smile. "None of this 'sir' business."

Everyone laughed, and Karen prepared lunch. Hermione went to help her, leaving Ron and John to talk alone.

"You know Ron, "John said after they had been talking for awhile. "If I remember correctly, Hermione never brought home any boyfriends before. There was that Krum boy." Ron winced at the name. "He was her pen pal for away, but I don't think he was a real boyfriend. I used to dread the day when my daughter would start to have boyfriends, as all fathers do, but you seem like a fine boy. I'm glad Hermione's with you than any of the jerks she could be with."

"Thank you, John." Ron said.

Just then, Karen called from the kitchen, "Lunch is served!"

During lunch, the Grangers asked Ron about his family. He told them what his father did for a living. – without mentioning the fact that Arthur worked at the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office. Instead, Ron told them his father worked for the Ministry, which was true. – He also told them about his brothers and their families, how his brother Fred was murdered in a "shooting" in London, and how his sister married his and Hermione's close friend, Harry.

"What do you do for a living?" Karen asked.

"I'm an Auror. It's a dangerous job, but it pays well, and I enjoy it." Ron replied, forgetting completely Hermione's parents had no idea what an Auror was."

"An Auror? That's…interesting." Karen said, trying to be polite.

"Aurors are like police officers." Hermione explained. "Their job is to track down people who break our laws or people who are a danger to everyone, not just wizards and witches." Hermione had told her parents she was a "lawyer" even though her job included a little more than what muggle lawyers often do.

Karen smiled. "What a wonderful occupation to be in, Ron! Thank you so much for your services."

After about an hour of talking and laughing, Hermione decided everything was going perfectly, so she said, "Mum, Dad, I have something to tell you."

"Hermione, I -"Ron began, but stopped when he saw Hermione glaring at him.

"Hermione dear, what is it?" Karen asked her voice full of concern.

"I've loved Ron for a long time now. Which is why, when he proposed to me, " Karen gasped as Hermione began removing her glove. "I said yes."

Karen gave her daughter a hug. "Oh honey, I'm so happy for you!" she said. "Aren't you John?"

"Yes, I am." John said quietly. "Ron, may I have a word?"

Ron gulped. "Of course." He said, and John led him down the hall, away from Hermione and Karen.

"As I said before Ron, I think you are a very fine young man. However, Hermione is my little princess, and if she gets hurt, I will not be a happy man. I don't care if you are a wizard, if you break my only child's heart, or physically harm her in any way, you are going to wish you've never messed with me."

"I understand you perfectly." Ron said quietly.

"Good. But that won't happen." John said confidently. "I see how much you love my daughter, and I am honored to give you her hand."

"Thank you, John." Ron said, and he and his future father-in-law once again joined the women they loved in the living room.